Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

All iPads Any ideas on how to make phone calls using an iPad?

albertfallickwa

albertfallickwa

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 27, 2014
543
40
I have a Google Voice number that I use and was wondering what is the best way to make phone calls using an iPad? I plan to get a LTE enabled one this upcoming week or so.

Talkatone? Skype? What is the best way?
 
I've been a longtime Talkatone user. Google is currently changing Google Voice to restrict third party apps from using it's service. Talkatone will no longer work with it in a couple of weeks. Hangouts is the app to use for it now. It's not as nice a calling app as Talkatone, but it works, it"s free, and I'm getting better call quality than I ever got before.
 
A year ago, I would have said that no matter what you choose, get a headset. But then an associate of mine started using his iPad in conference rooms where there were multiple participants. For example, he'd have four to eight people in the room with him, and I and few other folks would be dialing into a bridge.

The iPad blew away every deskphone or starphone I've ever used in terms of picking up people who weren't as close as they should be and working around background noise. I was shocked.
 
CoMoMacUser said:
A year ago, I would have said that no matter what you choose, get a headset. But then an associate of mine started using his iPad in conference rooms where there were multiple participants. For example, he'd have four to eight people in the room with him, and I and few other folks would be dialing into a bridge.

The iPad blew away every deskphone or starphone I've ever used in terms of picking up people who weren't as close as they should be and working around background noise. I was shocked.
Click to expand...

This would be true of the Air, and perhaps of the other full size iPads. However, if you are using a Mini, the speakers might sound too small. My mom always complains the sound is too small when she picks up FaceTime on her Mini, and wants to switch to the Air.
 
I spend a lot of time traveling and use Skype, Whistle and Hangout. I have a Skype number that I forward my iPhone number to when out of the country.
The mini is the perfect size. I wear cargo pants and the mini fits easily in a pocket. I seldom use data on the phone and have considered going to a dumb phone.
 
Night Spring said:
This would be true of the Air, and perhaps of the other full size iPads. However, if you are using a Mini, the speakers might sound too small. My mom always complains the sound is too small when she picks up FaceTime on her Mini, and wants to switch to the Air.
Click to expand...


In a conference room, one option is to have the iPad output to the room's PA.
 
TextMe is good but it has too many bugs...It often crash when you add link to contact book and also when you attach picture to text/message, it will crash as well. :apple:
 
Badrottie said:
TextMe is good but it has too many bugs...It often crash when you add link to contact book and also when you attach picture to text/message, it will crash as well. :apple:
Click to expand...

I've never had such problems, but I'm only one user, so I can't speak for everyone.
 
I also use Google Hangouts with my Google Voice number and it works extremely well, both on my iPod Touch and iPad Retina Mini with iOS 7.1.

The Touch is ideal when out-and-about (assuming you have a wifi connection) - even smaller and lighter than an iPhone. The Retina Mini makes a great office speaker phone when on a stand. Superb audio quality.

The voice quality in both directions is better than the cell connection with my Verizon dumb phone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back